When the church service was finished all who attended gathered in the kingdom square for the festivities. They assembled their own picnic dinners with their families and after everyone had eaten, the children played games that had been set up for them. Games such as target practice, skipping rocks over the lake, and finding little surprises that were hidden in parts of the area. Among the children who were playing were Levi and Grace, the son and daughter of the blacksmith Gajeel. Little Grace approached Juvia who was sharing a picnic meal with Gray and gave her a bouquet of wild flowers.

"I hope you like them." She said. "I picked all the prettiest flowers I could find. They're Emilias, Gladiolas, and Maguerite Daisies."

Juvia smiled at the girl and hugged her in a appreciative manner. Then Grace took Juvia by the hand and gently pulled on her arm.

"Will you help me look for the prizes? I'm little so I won't be as fast as the big kids."

Juvia happily consented. She and Grace ran all around looking for the hidden surprises which were oranges and citrons. She took the time to help Levi too and it brought her great joy to spend time with the children. It reminded her of the games she used to play with Natsu when they were children themselves. All the smiles. All the laughter. All the warmth. What she wouldn't give to be able to go back to those times for just one day.

Gray who watched them was pleased to see how happy she was. Levi and Grace's parents watched them as well. Watched them and were equally pleased at the sight.

"Such a lovely girl." Commented their mother Levy who had recovered from her illness. "Words cannot describe how grateful we are to her for all that she's done for us."

"And everyone else in the kingdom." Her husband Gajeel added. "I don't think I've ever known anyone so giving. Except you of course Levy."

Levy giggled and kissed Gajeel in agreement.

"Grace thinks she's a princess." Levy said. "Is she?"

"No." Gray answered truthfully. "I found her living in the woods and I don't think she has a family. She has this one friend but he kind of has to live away from her for awhile."

"He? Is he her sweetheart?" Gajeel asked.

"No. I don't think it's like that. She can't tell me otherwise but I think she loves him in a family way."

"With all due respect, she can't talk so what makes you think that?"

"Call it a gut feeling. Anyway I don't know what he is to her but I do know that he's pretty much all she has in the world."

"Oh how terrible." Levy said. "It must be so hard for her to be apart from her only family. It's amazing how she can still be so kind even when she's missing someone so dearly."

"Yeah she's amazing like that." Gray said watching her every move with undivided attention. "Gajeel, Levy, can I ask you two something?"

"Sure." Gajeel said.

"Do you suppose that my father and mother would have approved of Juvia? I know she's not of royal blood but other than that she has every other virtue that is expected of a princess. Doesn't she?"

"From what I've seen? Yes but why are you asking this? What kind of approval do you mean? Do you want to know if your parents would have approved of her as a person? Or something else?"

"Well." He said willing himself not to blush. "The royal council say that I can't officially succeed my father and become king until I'm married. Jiemma is bound and determine that I marry the princess of Dragnof but lately I've been thinking that I- On second thought never mind."

"If something is bothering you Gray, you can tell us." Levy said. "You're more than just a prince to us. You've been a longtime friend to us both."

"I know but...Really it's nothing important."

"If you say so sire." Gajeel said.

"Please excuse me. I think that I would like to try my hand at target practice."

However Levy could sense that there was something troubling him. He had distressed look on his face throughout the entire evening. Well except for whenever he looked at Juvia. That's when Levy realized what had troubled the prince so.

Later on music started to play which caused everyone to dance. Gray walked to Juvia and offered his hand to her. She shyly accepted it and the two of them began a romantic waltz. At first Juvia was very nervous during the dance because she worried that she might step on Gray's foot or do something else embarrassing. But after awhile her worries were forgotten and she found herself having a wonderful time dancing. She also enjoyed having Gray's arms around her and holding her close as they moved together. He was always by her and never ceased his compliments and kind speeches to her. He nearly made her swoon.

"How romantically tragic." Levy sighed, watching them as she danced with her husband

"What do you mean?" Gajeel asked her. "What's so tragic?"

"Them."

"What about them?"

"Oh Gajeel." She chuckled. "You're a man who married for love yet you still remain ever clueless to matters of the heart."

"Levy please don't go into that whole philsophical talk again. You know I can't understand it. Speak plain English."

"Can't you see? They're in love."

"Oh...How is that tragic?"

"Because he's a prince and he's being pushed into an arranged marriage with another woman. That never ends well you know."

"Oh yeah. Makes you wonder if we peasants really are the ones worse off. At least we have a say in who we marry."

"Indeed. But I do hope that whatever happens, Gray is happy. Happy."

Gray and Juvia might have spent the whole night dancing but suddenly it started to rain. The people were everywhere, scattering about and desperately trying to get somewhere dry. Thunder clapped and it spooked the horses into running off. While the guards went to retrieve them, Gray put his cloak over Juvia to shelter her from the rain. She in turn decided to share the cloak with him. They were both huddled closely underneath a tree and with that cloak cast over them.

"Well tonight didn't go as I expected but it could have gone worse." Gray said to her. "I hope you still had a good time."

She nodded.

"Really? You enjoyed the festival?"

She nodded again.

"You're not just saying that are you?"

She shook her head.

"Good. You always seem so sad and I really wanted to make you happy. Especially considering how charitable you been to my people. You know it's strange, I never realized how poor they all were until you came. I assumed that the archbishop was helping them. He told me that he collected money for charity but now I'm not so sure."

Juvia sensed that Jiemma was not a man to be trusted. Something about him reminded her very much of her stepmother. Whenever he looked at her she felt as she was being gazed upon by a monster. She feared for Gray's safety. But she could not tell him her fears and suspicions. She could only hope that there were others who felt as she did and would tell him. Or better yet that he would see that man for what he really was.

"I never trusted him." Gray told her. "To me he never acted even remotely Christian but the royal council insisted that he advise me until I proved mature enough to run the kingdom on my own. They treat me like I'm a child. I know that I have a lot to learn about ruling a kingdom but I do not need to be told what to do."

She looked at him with an understanding gaze.

"Jiemma is also very controlling. He makes decrees and orders without consulting me first. He even has the nerve to arrange for me to marry the princess of a neighboring kingdom. Something that wasn't even mentioned to me. If he pushes too far I'm going to have him dismissed."

Suddenly his face turned melancholic.

"But with everyone telling me what to do all the time, I can't help but think that maybe I'm doing something wrong. Maybe I'm not being the ruler I'm supposed. Maybe I've disappointed my parents."

He hung his head and contemplated if there was any truth to his doubts. Juvia then gently grasped his hand with one of her own and with her other hand she turned his face to look at her. She shook her head to tell him that his doubts were false. To tell him that he was a wonderful man. To tell him that he would make a great king. To tell him that his dearly departed mother and father would be proud of the man he had grown up to be.

"I'm a very strange man you know." He admitted. "You can't say a word yet you're the person I want to talk to most. The person I feel like I can say anything to. Does that make sense?"

She nodded before taking a moment to wring the water from her hair. Gray was astonished. Even completely drenched in rain, soaking wet, she was still the most beautiful thing in his life. He had never even seen the princess of Dragnof but he was sure that Juvia was lovelier than her. To him that is.

His free hand moved to caress her cheek. It made her feel bashful for a moment but it didn't last and she gave him a smile. A darling smile. A smile that wrapped all the way around her heart, his heart and squeezed them tight together. Gray could no longer contain himself and he kissed her rosebud lips. His actions caught her by surprise and she moved away a little.

"I'm sorry." He said. "I shouldn't have done that. It was very improper. Please forgive me."

He was always such a gentleman to her. Always thinking about her feelings. Never wanting to do anything to make her feel uncomfortable. He was truly wonderful.

She moved closer to him again and returned his kiss. His arms embraced her, she held his face in her hands, their hearts were beating rapidly at the exact same time as their lips brushed against each other softly. Levy's deduction had been correct. They were in love. So in love that right now nothing else mattered to them, not even the rain. So they discarded the cloak and just continued to hug and kiss in the pouring rain.

Juvia was so happy in that moment. Happier than she had been since her stepmother had victimized her family. She didn't think it was possible for her to ever be this happy again. But she was glad that she had been proven wrong. So very glad. If she could she would have said to Gray right then and there;

"I love you. I love you dearly. I love you as much as I love my brother and I would do anything for you just as I would do anything for him."

But she did say it to him. Not with her voice but with her eyes. Her eloquent blue eyes told him exactly how she felt about him in her heart and it thrilled him so.

Unfortunately and unbeknownst to the couple, they were being spied on by Jiemma and the archbishop was not pleased with what he was seeing. This blossoming romance would definitely get in the way of his plans. He needed to somehow be rid of the mute girl who had won the prince's heart or all his scheming would be for not.